Vacation homes are the pinnacle of relaxation. If you want to get away for a while, your resort in paradise will provide the ideal getaway for a few days, weeks, or however long you stay.
Buying a vacation house is an excellent investment you can get creative with. The options are limitless, so get the creative juices flowing by reading these seven ideas for your vacation dream home.
Table of Contents
1. Research the Area
The first step is to know what area you’re interested in building. You’ve likely heard the phrase “location, location, location” because it matters when designing a house. A structure in the Florida Keys will probably look different from one in the Pacific Northwest.
Location matters for the structure of your house because it helps determine the features. It will also go a long way in deciding the interior of your home, what clothes you’ll wear, the food you’ll cook, and the other amenities of the house. If you love cold weather, you’ll enjoy a fireplace more in Alaska than in Miami Beach.
2. Account for Sun Exposure
Some forget to consider sun exposure when building a vacation home. A good rule of thumb is to remember the sun sets in the east and rises in the west, so plan accordingly for your windows. If you want to see the sunrise in the morning, install windows facing east. For sunsets, ensure the windows face toward the west.
Have your windows face south for the maximum amount of light. To minimize the light, face your windows north. These can keep the inside cool, especially during the summer in warmer climates. Going one step further with energy-efficient windows can lower your utility bills when temperatures climb.
3. Design an Open Floor Plan
In modern vacation homes, one element that’s become more popular is an open floor plan. This design combines the dining and living rooms into one large area. Ideally, the kitchen will be adjacent so you can see the large area while preparing food. Open floor plans make the house appear bigger and less cramped, giving you plenty of space for you and any guests to maneuver.
Open floor plans make life easier because they’re easier to communicate in. You don’t have to shout to talk to people in other rooms and you can keep an eye on anybody from where you’re standing in the kitchen. This design makes watching children more manageable and guests will be happier because there’s more room to walk around, socialize and play games.
4. Prioritize Privacy
Most people design their vacation home as a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life back home. They want to pretend their regular worlds don’t exist for a while, so they prioritize privacy in their design. For the exterior, this plan means building the house where others can’t easily access it. Or you may want a property where the closest neighbor is miles down the road.
There are plenty of ways you can create privacy in the interior of a home. If only two people are in the house, then privacy may be a lower priority. But if you have kids or invite guests, you can make proper arrangements. Try separating the bedrooms from places with the most commotion, such as the living room and outdoor areas.
5. Install Durable Flooring
In a vacation home, the floors can get dirty quickly. You’ll want to ensure yours has suitable flooring capable of handling any climate. If you plan to rent to customers, you’ll want to pick durable flooring that can attract and handle any tenants.
For a beach setting, you may want to choose a water-resistant floor like tile or vinyl. Tile is ideal for tropical and subtropical climates because it stands well in humid environments. It’s also an excellent material because it can keep your beach house cool in the hot summer months. Dream vacation homes that look more like ski lodges could benefit from a plush carpet to keep the rooms warmer.
6. Consider the Environment
Sustainability has become a higher priority, especially for those in the construction and real estate industries. Consumers prioritize eco-friendly measures when purchasing goods and sustainability matters when building a home, especially for vacations. Climate change has become more prominent recently, so you’ll want to consider it when designing your dream vacation home.
For example, construct your home with reclaimed or recycled wood if you’re building a cabin in the woods. Your house won’t require new timber and will be structurally sound because it’s durable. If you don’t live near your vacation home, choose a low-maintenance wood such as cedar because it will hold up well. Besides timber, you could use materials like stone, steel, or concrete.
7. Light the Place Up
The amount of light can make a big difference in your dream vacation home. You can transform the property from a regular house into a resort by prioritizing the lighting. It’s hard to say there’s such a thing as too much lighting because it can help your safety while you’re away from your full-time home. Vacation properties can include neighbors, but lights can come in handy if you’re in the middle of nowhere.
There are many places you can install lighting to set a nice ambiance. Ceiling and floor lights are terrific options. Pendant lights and wall-mounted lamps could be ideal fixtures to fit your theme. If sustainability is a priority, try finding light-emitting diode (LED) products to maximize efficiency. LED lighting is practical for beach homes because they emit little heat, keeping the rooms cooler than incandescent bulbs.
Designing Your Dream Destination
Vacation homes are popular because they’re a spot in paradise you can have to yourself. Crafting the house is half the fun because you can tailor it to your liking as much as possible. Follow these seven tips for designing your vacation dream home that will last a long time and please yourself and your guests.
Author Bio:
Jack Shaw is a freelance writer specializing in the men’s lifestyle niche. He likes to write about a variety of topics including interior design, hiking, and sports.
